One Size Can Fit All!
Many people have written to me asking for lists of Representatives and Senators and ask to whom they should write. My answer is always the same…ALL OF THEM!
I recently received correspondence from a Representative, who shall remain nameless, in response to one of the many e-mails I had sent. The e-mail began by saying: “don't usually respond to "out of towners," but I wanted to remind you that many of us, while hoping for a workable property tax relief plan for seniors on fixed incomes, still do not want to eliminate the property tax.”
This representative’s district is within 35 miles of my home….not sure if that makes me an “out of towner” or not. It is a district with much industry that greatly reduces the homeowner’s share of the school property tax burden. I find it hard to believe, that given the opportunity to fund education differently, that the constituency in this district still would not be delighted to eliminate their school property tax bill every year regardless of the amount. The closing statement on this e-mail read: “Please consider the differing circumstances in the state and recognize that no "one size fits all solution" will work for Pennsylvania.”
Well guess what…it is a one size fits all problem…and Harrisburg had better find a one size fits all solution. It needs to be a one size fits all solution that will work for all residential property tax paying citizens (don’t forget…we are the majority). The best “one size fits all” solution is the elimination of school property taxes and the re-thinking about the way our schools are funded.
What I do recognize is the fact that the votes of all Representatives and all Senators, regardless of the district that elected them, produce changes in law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and thus affect my life as a resident. It is an all or nothing situation because change in law affects each and every one of us.
We do not call these people District Representatives or District Senators. They are PA STATE officials. Regardless of who put them in office, they work for all of us. KEEP WRITING TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM….THEIR VOTE WILL IMPACT DIRECTLY ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
nopropertytaxes@yahoo.com for e-mail lists of Representators and Senators
I recently received correspondence from a Representative, who shall remain nameless, in response to one of the many e-mails I had sent. The e-mail began by saying: “don't usually respond to "out of towners," but I wanted to remind you that many of us, while hoping for a workable property tax relief plan for seniors on fixed incomes, still do not want to eliminate the property tax.”
This representative’s district is within 35 miles of my home….not sure if that makes me an “out of towner” or not. It is a district with much industry that greatly reduces the homeowner’s share of the school property tax burden. I find it hard to believe, that given the opportunity to fund education differently, that the constituency in this district still would not be delighted to eliminate their school property tax bill every year regardless of the amount. The closing statement on this e-mail read: “Please consider the differing circumstances in the state and recognize that no "one size fits all solution" will work for Pennsylvania.”
Well guess what…it is a one size fits all problem…and Harrisburg had better find a one size fits all solution. It needs to be a one size fits all solution that will work for all residential property tax paying citizens (don’t forget…we are the majority). The best “one size fits all” solution is the elimination of school property taxes and the re-thinking about the way our schools are funded.
What I do recognize is the fact that the votes of all Representatives and all Senators, regardless of the district that elected them, produce changes in law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and thus affect my life as a resident. It is an all or nothing situation because change in law affects each and every one of us.
We do not call these people District Representatives or District Senators. They are PA STATE officials. Regardless of who put them in office, they work for all of us. KEEP WRITING TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM….THEIR VOTE WILL IMPACT DIRECTLY ON YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
nopropertytaxes@yahoo.com for e-mail lists of Representators and Senators
posted by Helen | 5:24 PM
2 Comments:
While I too believe that tax reform is needed, I don't believe the abolition of the property tax is the right answer. First and formost the state needs to fund their share of education properly. They also need to relieve the unfunded and underfunded mandates on school districts. Do the districts have some responsibilities here, YES! But the state has continued to not fund education. As an example, the school district in which I live has gone from 52 cents on a dollar for basic education plus all of special education costs to 19 cents on a dollar total state and federal subsidy. Things like IDEA and NCLB have sent many mandates to the schools without funding and that is not the schools fault nor is it the states fault! Things like the construction mandate of the prevailing wage makes the cost of constructing schools rise substantially. I also believe the elimination of the property tax across the board is wrong! Business property tax should remain. It is the only "real" tax a business must pay and cannot escape. Income taxes and the like there are "deductions" to not have to pay portions of those taxes. Yes we need tax relief and yes the seniors should be a priority. But I as a home owner have no problem paying a fair property tax. YES I believe there could be a fair property tax. I also believe any "tax shift" is not going to do anything but make the people less able to pay have to pay more! You are right about this particualr item. Business organizations are going to see to it that the businesses won't pay the individual will and thus WE are the losers! Hope this makes sense to those of you who do read it!
I appreciate your comments. I agree that the State does not adequately fund education. Although they claim that an additional $29 million dollars was put into education last year the actual distribution percentage to each school district has decreased tremendously over the past several years.
I still believe that we need to reform the way monies are collected and disbursed for funding education. I do believe that a broadened sales and use tax would raise the revenues needed to eliminate the school property tax portion of a homeowners tax bill.
I do not believe that this would create a hardship for any individual group of people.
As long as funding control remains at the local level the school districts will continue to increase taxes, regardless of whatever "relief" we may get, and we will be right back at ground zero within a few years.
I do believe business property tax should remain. I do believe we need to do something for our seniors. I do not believe that a tax shift would be harmful to anyone. You have a choice with what you spend...you have "no" choice when it comes to property taxes.
There are many things that need to be "fixed" within the Commonwealth. Our system of welfare for helping the "poorest of the poor" does not work well. We seem to encourage staying on welfare instead of helping people to get off of it! Once you are enrolled it just goes on and on and on! We need a system like "unemployment" where you are entitled for a period of time then it terminates. During this period we should be helping people to find jobs and be gainfully employed. If this is not possilbe, then review case by case and make a determination to continue with welfare assistance.
Sorry I got off the track. But, the "feel good" politicans seem to focus on the poor and forget the hurting middle class.
I do agree with may points in your letter. I still very stongly believe in the elimination of school property taxes.
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